Indian Express Newspaper

HYDERABAD: Less of a martial art and more a system of hand-to-hand combat devised by the Israeli defence forces, Krav Maga isn’t for the weak-kneed. The system combines grappling and wrestling techniques with street fighting skills. You learn how to break the stranglehold of an attacker by going for his groin, face or knee. Unlike in martial arts where certain moves are not permissible, the focus of Krav Maga is crystal clear: beware of threats and deal with them as effectively as possible.

How is Krav-Maga different from conventional martial arts? “This is close combat, with no rules. It helps in real street fight, unlike judo or karate that do not allow an all-out fight against the opponent,” says Ajit N, city-based Krav Maga instructor. According to him, it is easy, effective and works in any situation. “You don’t have to be powerful. It just tunes your reflexes to down any opponent.”

“This form of martial art uses elements of physical fitness to tone muscles and help in coordination. You’re burning calories and we incorporate standard calisthenics, but the primary reason people come to us is for self-defence. Toning and losing weight is not the main goal but many women say they see results during the training,” says Ajit.

Krav Maga techniques are practised in simulated, ever-changing situations.

Krav Maga is very aggressive and dynamic in itself. Basically, you work up a huge sweat just doing the motions. You’re punching pads and being grabbed by people. “It’s as real as we can make it.This makes you more confident and capable of handling any situation that may require physical exertion and also helps in dealing with stress under pressure. It is mainly because you are trained to react beyond the normal,” Ajit explains.

The fitness advantages of programmes such as Krav Maga lie in the short, high-intensity explosiveness that occurs in muscle fibers.

“When you are building up kinetic force, you are developing really strong neurological pathways from your brain to your muscle, which helps instincts and reflexes. Any type of really short, intense workout helps elevate metabolic rate and burn more fat,” he says adding, that students practising Krav Maga expend 20 to 30 per cent more energy than during a less intensive activity such as step aerobics.

Source: http://expressbuzz.com/